After Ch. 8 of YMBiS
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Bonfire Nights
Chapter Six
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Neji
*Training*
April 17th 5:15 AM KST
Konoha, Maito Gai's Dojo
Neji had returned from Suna feeling oddly refreshed. It was not unusual for him to go between Konoha and Suna, but the newest threat to dōjutsu users coupled with the acknowledged return of Sasuke to their ranks had given a new urgency to his travels.
His budding relationship with Sakura, Hinata's involvement in ANBU, Hanabi coming of age and training for the combat trials, Naruto being more Naruto than usual and in proximity to his cousin, Hiashi hinting about wanting to strengthen ties with other clans in a thinly veiled attempt to suggest Hinata marrying…. It all weighed on him and pulled his attention in different directions.
In a bid for normalcy, he decided to join his team for the early morning training session that he had thought he would be unable to make. The sounds coming from the dojo were so familiar, that he felt himself (almost) smile. This was familiar. This he knew.
Therefore, he was genuinely surprised to find not Lee and Tenten on the mats, but Naruto sparring with Konohamaru while Lee and Tenten watched.
Lee's face lit up brilliantly as he waved him over.
"Neji! I didn't think you could make it!"
"We finished a little earlier last night than projected," he said, putting his bag against the wall and joining his teammates. "What's all this?" he pointed with his chin.
"Konohamaru and Naruto normally train after us," Lee turned his eyes back to the spar. "Since we thought we'd be a minus a teammate, we invited them to join us."
"Naturally," Tenten added, "we gave them the chance to go first."
"Naturally," Neji caught her eye and did not miss the impish look there. Tenten was not a morning person by choice; having someone else kick off the training was just fine with her.
"How are they doing?" Neji turned back to watch as Konohamaru blocked Naruto's kick.
"Standard rules," Tenten hid a yawn. "Taijutsu only. Rasengan or any technique that can take out the dojo is forbidden."
They ducked as one of Konohamaru's clones soared overhead and dispelled just as a second went the other direction. Naruto almost missed the original that had been hiding behind him, barely managing to dodge the attack.
"Nice!" he called out as Konohamaru flipped back and reset.
"Almost got you that time, boss!"
"Almost," Naruto's grin had a feral edge to it as the others cheered on his opponent.
"Get 'im, Konohamaru!" Tenten cheered as Lee cried out "Youthfully done!"
"Traitors," Naruto called back and the spar resumed.
Neji, however, remained silent. He watched Konohamaru with particular interest, and tried to remain objective.
"Told you he isn't a kid anymore," Tenten said quietly - now at his other side to avoid being deafened as Lee continued to yell encouragement.
Neji had to admit, she had a point. Konohamaru had been an annoying pipsqueak for so long, it was strange to see him this way – or any other way than annoying and constantly following Naruto around for their stupid sexy-no-jutsu contests. It was hard to believe this over-six-foot twenty-something was that same kid.
Just as Neji was about to allow that Konhamaru truly was not the same person, he shot off a less than delicate remark to Naruto who had just won the round.
"Except when he opens that mouth," he muttered, and Tenten shrugged.
"Takes time."
As Naruto and Konohamaru made their way off of the mat, Lee turned to Neji. "Shall we?"
"Sure," Neji inclined his head.
Naruto, Konohamaru, and Tenten cheered them on as they spared, each taking turns with different styles. Gai had assigned them forms and restrictions in later years, forcing them to become more fluid opponents. It was almost like a dance, although Neji was sure his several weeks away would mean he would not feel like he had been dancing.
When they finished, Naruto and Tenten headed to the mat, surprising Neji.
"We've been meeting while you were gone," Lee explained. "Naruto is having Tenten use her wooden melee weapons today. They are tied 1-1 and this is their last round. She is using her bo staff."
Neji watched Tenten test the weight of her staff before leaning it back against the wall with a satisfied nod. She shed her warm-up clothes, carefully folding the bottoms and jacket and placed them to the side. It was a familiar sight; she always wore them between fights, even when it was warm as it currently was in the dojo area. She bounced up and down a few times on the balls of her bare feet and shook out her arms, rolling her neck and loosening up. Neji watched her with the practiced eye of a team mate. She had a determination in her eyes that he recognized; Tenten hated to lose, and they were tied. Naruto was in for a good match.
"Excellent, Tenten!" Lee called out to her enthusiastically. "It is important to warm up!"
"I'll say it is," Konohamaru mumbled appreciatively.
Neji looked sharply over at the younger operative before following his gaze back to where his team mate alternating between bouncing on the balls of her feet and stretching. Neji narrowed his eyes at her.
Her black athletic shorts molded to her legs, stopping right below her hips. The black tank-top came barely to her ribs and her short off-the-shoulder purple crop top was surprisingly feminine for someone that was a walking arsenal. He tensed and the corners of his mouth moved almost imperceptibly downward. He'd seen her in this training outfit probably a hundred times, but today he disliked it.
Tenten retrieved her bo staff and Naruto nodded to her, grabbing a couple of kunai. After a few trunk rotations with her bo staff across her shoulders, she asked Naruto, "You ready?"
"Yeah," he stuffed one more kunai into his pouch and came out with one in each hand. "You sure you only want that one weapon," he asked uneasily. "Not like you to risk being unarmed."
Tenten sized him up. "One," she held up one finger, "good luck disarming me. Two," she held up the second, "what makes you think I've only got one weapon?"
Naruto stared at her, raking his eyes up and down her several times searching for additional weaponry before he noticed her arched eyebrow, and beyond her, a confident Lee, a smirking Konohamaru, and a glowering Neji. "Done checking me out?" she asked shifting her weight and putting her hand on her hip.
"What! Yeah, I mean no – I mean –I wasn't-!" he stammered.
"Good." She cut him off and made her way to the center of the floor. Her demeanor shifted to competitive and her stance to deadly. "Then let's go."
Relieved, Naruto instantly joined her. Some imperceptible signal passed between them, and they both sprang forward, clashed weapons and sprang apart again. Naruto sliced wildly at where her head had been but she dropped down and swept for his legs with her staff. He had to let his momentum carry him forward and he flipped over her, leaving his back to her for a fraction of a second. She had already turned, though, and slapped a hand between his shoulder blades, catching him off guard and allowing her to spring back. He looked over his shoulder and saw the tag on his back, yanked it off and tossed it to one side as he jumped to the other. It exploded in a harmless puff of smoke.
"Where did you-?" he stared at her, but he didn't have time for questions. She was already charging at him again, and he felt himself grin.
They exchanged blow after blow; Naruto with two kunai, Tenten with her staff that she could break apart and straighten at will. Naruto grabbed her staff to dodge and jumped over it, sending a clone behind her. She sent a kunai she had pick pocketed from his leg pouch on her last pass flying over her shoulder with deadly precision and without looking.
"We said no clones!" she called out as the clone poofed out of existence.
"Sorry," he replied ducking as her staff swept over his head. "I forgot!"
"Sure you did," Tenten grunted. She twirled the staff in front of her, swiping at him and just as quickly maneuvering it behind herself to block his every blow.
"Tenten is very youthful today!" Lee cheered enthusiastically.
"Is that what you'd call it?" Konohamaru asked idly. "My first thoughts were somewhere between 'badass' and 'scary as hell.'" He looked over her appreciatively. "Pretty amazing to watch, though."
Neji tightened his jaw as he glanced at Konohamaru. It seems that the teachings of Jiraiya lived on. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?" he asked coldly.
"No-PE!," Konohamaru popped the "P" emphatically and took out his water bottle. "I'm slated to be in this training session for at least another hour."
Neji narrowed his eyes at the younger agent who was completely unaffected by it.
They watched as Tenten and Naruto clashed again and again; kicking, spinning, flipping, and punching. Konohamaru winced when Naruto slammed against her staff, but she allowed it to collapse and moved to the side, using the momentum to throw him off, twirling it behind her and straightening it back to one piece. Neji looked at the clock; they had been at it nonstop for almost 15 minutes and neither seemed to be gaining an advantage.
"Go Tenten!" Lee cried, and they both turned to see her spinning toward him, rotating her staff hypnotically then feinting high so that Naruto would duck, catching Naruto's back leg and flipping him onto his back before rushing forward, the end of her staff less than an inch from his throat.
To his credit, Naruto didn't even flinch. He was actually too stunned. She held the strike position for a moment longer before retracting the staff and holding her hand out to him. "Good spar," she smiled.
"Yeah," Naruto grinned, taking her hand. "Real good."
She stood for a second to catch her breath, sliding her staff to her side and leaning with one hip out. "Why do we let Lee talk us into turning down the air in here," she muttered, as one of Naruto's clones brought them each a towel. She took it gratefully and wiped her forehead, face, and neck. Neji didn't miss any of the appreciative gazes. Tenten was narrow hipped and lean – more athletically built than the other girls. She was bustier than Sakura, but not as curvaceous as Ino. She was darker than the other girls, too. She swiped the towel around her abdomen and down her long legs before going to the barre to stretch out.
"Well done," Lee slapped Naruto on the back. "Shall we start?"
"Gimme a minute, Lee," Naruto said between slurps of water. "Break for ten?"
"Certainly," Lee beamed. "Come, Neji," he motioned to his teammate. "I am anxious to hear about your time away." Lee trotted over to where Tenten was pouring cool water into the towel before swiping at her face, arms, and neck.
"Great job out there," Lee enthused as Tenten put her towel to the side.
"Thanks, Lee," she reached for her water. "You guys mind if I stretch out while we catch up?"
"Far be it from us to interrupt your routine," Neji sat on the floor
"So?" Lee dropped next to him. "Tell us about Suna!"
"Yeah," Tenten, who stood her back to the corner, dropped over at the waist with her arms folded to help pull her forward. "How was everything?"
"Fine," Neji shrugged as she stood and stretched her arms over her head, the full expanse of her defined abdomen and narrow waist visible. She dropped her arms and swung one across her chest and then the other, stretching them out.
"Hinata travel ok?" she asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes," he nodded. "It was a much better flight this time." He detailed his time in Suna as they each took their turns stretching out. Lee alternated between pushups and handstands and push-up-handstands. Tenten took to the barre - stretching to touch the floor on either side of her planted leg and then back to the leg on the barre. She switched legs and repeated. They had been team mates so long, that this was not unusual to any of them.
"We should go for dinner," Lee exclaimed.
Tenten stood, scooping up her towel from earlier and wiping her face. "I can't tonight, Lee, I have plans. Does tomorrow work?"
Neji arched an eyebrow. "Plans?"
"Yes, Neji, plans," she reached for her water bottle. "As in things to do that are scheduled ahead of time, and aren't work related."
"What youthful activity will you be engaging in tonight, Tenten?" Lee asked, running in place.
Tenten smiled at him. "I have to teach someone it's a bad idea to play me in pool," she grinned.
"Lee – I'm good to go," Naruto called over to them, and Lee excused himself.
Neji slid Tenten a glance.
"Is your opponent who I think it is?"
"Kiba," she affirmed. "In fact," she checked the time. "I might duck out early. Genma wants me to report in, and I have just enough time to clean up and talk some smack before getting to work."
"Charming," Neji drawled.
"Don't hate the player, Hyūga," she winked. "Hate the game."
"What does that even mean?"
"Ask Konohamaru to explain it to you," she grabbed her bag and gave him a cheeky smile. "See you later, Neji."
Neji watched her go. You'd have to be blind or dead not to notice and appreciate her athletic grace or the view as she walked away. Neji was absolutely none of those things, but he was more preoccupied by his teammate's love of all things competitive.
Later, when he had to deliver a report from Suna to Shino, he found Kiba chatting with his teammate in his office. Neji recognized the bento box between them as one of Hinata's.
"Snacks from Suna," Kiba said nodding to the box. "From your cousin. You want some?" Neji politely declined and Kiba grinned while he picked out a small pastry. "Your loss, man. Shino and I always knew we had the best kunoichi on our team, didn't we, Shino?"
"That is correct. What brings you down to the lab, Neji?"
"I brought this for you," Neji handed him the scroll. "I was hoping to discuss some of the information with you, if you have some time."
Shino looked at Kiba. "I have some time now."
"Yeah," Kiba dusted his hands off on his jeans. "I was heading out anyway. Oh, wait!" his eyes lit up. "Don't know if Tenten told you, but I'm taking her on in pool tonight. Any pointers?"
"Only if you need advice on how to accept defeat with dignity." He paused before adding, "You do know she is hustling you, right?"
"Of course she is," Kiba grinned a slow, easy grin. "No way is a girl like that is not a pool shark. But losing means I get to take her to dinner again; so, I win."
"And if you win?"
"I still win – she takes me to dinner. Not that I'll let her pay, of course," he shrugged.
Neji raised his eyebrows. "Then why not just ask her back out for dinner?"
Kiba's grin grew wider. "Where is the fun in that? Man, do you even know your team mate? She jumps at the chance for friendly competition and bets and hates to lose. She might turn down dinner, but she'll never turn down a challenge. Besides, have you ever watched a girl play pool, Hyūga? I mean really watched?" He asked Neji before leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head and giving an appreciative sigh. "Best sight around. Totally worth getting beat at the game."
Shino hmphed, preventing Neji from having to make a reply. "You are quite good as well. Who is to say you won't win?"
Kiba shrugged. "I already can't lose. I just have to keep the game going long enough to enjoy the view."
Neji was spared a reply by Shizune, who came in to speak with him. Agreeing to meet with Shino later that afternoon, he left and Kiba reached for another pastry with a triumphant grin.
Shino sighed. "That wasn't very wise, Kiba. Why? That is because, you intentionally tried to annoy Neji with your insinuations about your plans with and designs toward his teammate."
"I know," Kiba's grin was positively wolfish. "Fun, wasn't it?"
Hanabi
*Casual Encounters*
10:30 AM KST
Konoha, The Sarutobi Residence
"What a nice surprise!" Kurenai greeted Hanabi and put her coat and scarf on a chair. "You're freezing!" she gasped as she brushed against Hanabi's hand. "Hurry in and we will have some tea."
"Thank you," Hanabi smiled. "It is colder than I thought it would be today."
"What brings you by?"
"Hinata had some things to drop off to Master Sarutobi, so I brought them over for her. She also had some teas for you," Hanabi reached into her bag before draping it on the chair with her coat. "They are from Suna. She wanted you to see which ones you liked so she could bring you those back on her next trip."
"So, she will be going back?"
"Yes," Hanabi sighed. "She wants to finish the tour. Luckily Master Sarutobi and Yori will be with her." Hanabi's grin was crooked. "And people say I'm the stubborn one."
"You are," Kurenai chuckled, "It just so happens that you are one of several. Come on through to the kitchen."
Hanabi followed, looking around.
"Where are the kids?"
"With Asuma," Kurenai filled the kettle and set it on the electric base. "Shōgi has been working with him on something."
Kurenai had no sooner poured the tea when their quiet conversation was interrupted by something that sounded suspiciously like an explosion from the vicinity of the training area.
Both women startled and listened, before Hanabi tentatively offered, "Shōgi?"
Kurenai sighed. "Sounds like it."
The sound of a door opening and closing was followed by heavy footsteps and laughing in the hall.
"Um, Aunt Kurenai?" Konohamaru ducked in the kitchen with the youngest on his shoulders. "You might want to step outside for a minute."
Kurenai glanced at Hanabi who waved her away.
"I get it."
"I'll get their snack ready," Konohamaru offered. "That might speed things up."
Kurenai nodded, and hurried to the children.
"C'mon, you," he poked at his cousin. "Let's put you in your bouncer while we get the snacks put together."
Hanabi watched him put the toddler in the bouncer where he proceeded to happily bounce to whatever music it played before coming back into the kitchen.
"Sorry to interrupt like that, Hanabi," he gave an apologetic smile as washed his hands. "How have you been?"
"I am well," she answered. "But it sounds like Kurenai is going to need all of the help she can get. May I help with the snack?"
"Sure," he toweled off his hands. "Aunt Kurenai already has most of the stuff ready. We were going to make fruit salad today."
"I can help," Hanabi offered, and joined him at the sink to wash her hands. "Does the fruit need to be washed?"
"We did that earlier," he pulled out a cutting board and two knives. "If you can start with the fruit, I'll get their cups and everything ready and join you."
In moments, Hanabi was working her through a variety of fruits, pleasantly at home with this sort of kitchen work.
"So what is Shōgi working on these days?" she asked, her knife moving quickly against the cutting board.
"He has a fascination with exploding tags, lately." There was another loud burst of noise. "And gunpowder."
"Ah," she hid a smile. "That explains it."
"It is never a dull moment when babysitting, that's for sure. You never quite know what Shōgi will get into."
"Interesting," she said, adding strawberries to the large bowl. "I can't say he's ever given me any trouble. In fact," she added airily, "I believe I am currently his favorite babysitter."
"And he says I'm the most fun," he grinned as he filled the last of the kids' cups. "So, I think you have some competition for the title."
Hanabi stiffened at the surge of old insecurities. She knew what people said about her; was spoiled, stuck up, uptight, opinionated, and all kinds of other things – none of which went with being "fun." On the other hand, Konohamaru was all at ease, and he trained under Naruto. He was probably on the top of everyone's 'Invite to party' list. He'd even gotten invited to her parties, and would most likely enjoy the stupid thing, because he was probably one of those people that just had a good time no matter where they were.
"There's no competition," she said coolly, masking the irrational hurt she felt at being reminded, however unintentionally, that she was not fun. "I'm his favorite. He said so."
"Well, Shōgi never lies, so if that is what he said, then it must be true," he conceded, watching her out of the corner of his eye. He waited a beat before adding, "He is mad I got to go to your birthday party, by the way."
"He would have been bored to tears," Hanabi tsked, slicing an apple with a little more force than was strictly necessary.
"I wasn't," Konohamaru shrugged. "I had a good time with you. I mean, I didn't find my own Princess Fuku," he sighed dramatically, "but it was still a good time."
Hanabi narrowed her eyes at him, looking for any hint of deception.
"Really?"
His smile was slow. "Really."
Hanabi considered this, and mentally revisited the party. "I guess…I guess all in all it wasn't so bad."
"I almost had to carry you after we ran into Chikara because you couldn't stop laughing."
"Alright," she smiled, trying to suppress an errant giggle. "I admit it. I had fun."
"There you go," Konohamaru nudged her. "Just don't tell Shōgi that, ok? I'm in the doghouse as it is."
The sound of the kids tumbling back in the house broke the silence, and Hanabi refocused on her task with a slight blush. "Deal."
Asuma
*When Opportunity Knocks*
Asuma trailed Kurenai and his (mostly) unharmed children into the house, wincing as his eye began to swell closed. Shōgi had a bandage on his cheek and singe marks on his clothes, but was rather pleased with himself and his latest round of 'experiments,' which made Asuma think it was high time Shikamaru spent time with the boy.
A chorus of "Hanabi!" went up as the kids rounded into the kitchen and swarmed the girl. She laughed and she reached down to hug and kiss each of them, ruffling Shōgi's hair until he stepped away blushing and jamming his hands in his pockets in a posture very similar to the older cousin idolized.
"It is good to see you all," Hanabi beamed.
"We've got your snack ready," Konohamaru added. "Hurry and wash up before Hanabi and me eat all of your food."
The younger children hurried off to wash their hands with gleeful shrieks while Shōgi sized up his cousin. "I didn't know you knew Hanabi."
"We bonded over getting your snack ready," Konohamaru shrugged.
"Actually," Hanabi interjected in that way that made Kurenai meet Asuma's eyes. "You could settle a bet for us, Shōgi." At his raised eyebrows, she continued. "Who's your favorite babysitter."
Shōgi frowned looking between them. Finally he admitted, "You are. But Konohamaru lets us get away with more."
Hanabi gave a triumphant "told you so!" while Konohamaru turned to Shōgi with a mock gasp of indignation.
"Bro! That is totally against cousin code!"
"But it's true," Shōgi flushed. "And she asked – and we aren't allowed to lie!" He looked up at his dad, his eyes wide with worry. "It's never bad stuff – he can still babysit us, right?"
"Mm, I don't know," Asuma rubbed his chin. "Sounds like Konohamaru should have supervision."
"Maybe Hanabi can help," Shōgi offered, trying for damage control. "Then if he messes up, she can fix it."
A strange sound – suspiciously like a snorted laugh – came from Hanabi, but Asuma kept his eyes on his son.
"Your suggestion is that Konohamaru should babysit you… and Hanabi should babysit Konohamaru?"
Unsure if this was some kind of grown-up trap, Shōgi looked between his parents. "Yes….?
"Well then," Asuma clapped his hands. "What are you doing next Saturday, Konohamaru?"
"Uh…" Konohamaru rubbed the back of his neck. "I- don't think-"
"Yeah," Hanabi chimed in, innocently. "What are you doing next Saturday, Konohamaru?"
"Well – I've got, I mean -"
"What's the matter, Konohamaru?" she raised her eyebrows in question, as an almost-smile tugged at her lips. "Worried I'll send you to bed with no dessert?"
"What? No, it's just –"
"Well, I'm free," she said with finality. "What time?"
Asuma looked to Kurenai. "Six?"
"Six works for me," she shrugged.
"Then that's settled!" Asuma grinned. "Kids, finish up your snack, and then you can show Konohamaru and Hanabi your new training area!"
The children chorused an excited "Yeah!" and as soon as they were able, dragged the two younger adults out of the room. Squeals of laughter indicated that Konohamaru had scooped up at least one more of his cousins, while Hanabi must have grabbed another.
Asuma reached down and took a cup of tea and sipped it calmly. "That went well."
"I hope you know what you are doing, Asuma," Kurenai said, reluctantly, still looking toward the doorway and listening to the raucous sound of her kids dragging their victims down the hall.
"First, we are having a quiet cup of tea for a change. Then, in a little more than a week, I'm leaving our kids with the only two people that might have the skill, energy, and stamina to watch all of our kids at the same time, and be able to call in the entire Hyūga clan and/or ANBU level backup if needed, while I take my wife on a date for the first time in over a year."
Kurenai looked up to him in surprise. "Has it been that long?"
"Ah," he smiled wryly. "I was about to call in one of the Nara's for tactical support. It shouldn't be this difficult to spend time alone together."
"We do have five children," she pointed out.
"And I love every one of them," he wrapped an arm around her waist, "Shōgi, the Twins, and the Little Boys, but they can do without their parents for one evening."
A loud crash came from somewhere near the training area, and he winced. "Alright," he amended. "Make that we can use a break for one evening."
"Only one?" Kurenai mumbled.
Asuma laughed. "Depends. Last time we took more than one night off, we ended up with five kids instead of four."
"Let's just start with dinner," she said quickly. "One night can't hurt."
Another crash. She winced.
"I think…"
The Team Guy/Naruto/Konohamaru sparring scene is an homage to the Shippuden ending #15; the song is U can do it by Domino. I loved that scene in the original, and revamped it. Hope you enjoyed!